This study contributes a 10 factor 95 category schema for analyzing the content and method of 329 research articles dealing with the social, psychological and life event antecedents of physical illness. The form of this research was an inclusive archival survey of the primary literature. Selection was based on content, and articles were classified by method after selection. Estimates for the number of total articles and their distribution, based on a pilot study, were found to be accurate. Nineteen journals were surveyed for the period 1965–1974, and the differing interests of 8 separate disciplines in various illnesses, preconditions, and methods is demonstrated. The results also indicated what antecedents were studied with reference to specific illnesses and illness groups. The findings suggest that the historic origins of the various disciplines remain influential in the selection of content, and that tradition also guides journals in their selection of articles for publication. The sources of data for the project on the social preconditions and precipitators of physical illness were 19 journals thought to represent the primary literature in this area. Each eligible study was regarded as a unit from which information in 10 categories, including content, method, discipline of authorship, journal, and year of publication were retrieved in accordance with a pre-established plan. The data sets were then subjected to cross-tabulation and trend analysis.